Size box

ABSTRACT

The present size box is particularly adapted for applying size to textile strands or yarns at extremely high speeds. The rolls are arranged in the size box in such a manner that slinging of size from the rolls is reduced. To this end, only the immersion roll is positioned so that it runs in the size solution and the remaining rolls are positioned above the level of the size. Suitable guards are provided to restrict the amount of slinging of size from the rolls during high speed operation. The immersion roll is supported for vertical movement between a lowered operative position in the size solution and a raised inoperative position above the upper level of the size tank.

a g I .mted States Patent -191 [111 3,822,451 Griffin, Jr. July 9, 1974 SIZE'BOX Primary Examirter-Louis K. Rimrodt [75] Inventor, Ira L Grim Jr Charlotte N C Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park "NHL. ,7 .u VJ. f; & Gibson [73] Assigneez- Ira L. Griffin & Sons, Inc.,

. Charlotte, N.C. [57] ABSTRACT 22 Filed; Dec 14, 972 The present size box is particularly adapted for apply-- mg size to textile strands or yams at extremely high [21] APPL 9 314,990 speeds. The rolls are arranged in the size box in such v r a manner that slinging of size from the rolls is re- 52 its. c1. 28/28 duced- To this end, y the immersion roll is p [511 int Cl. nosc 29/00 tionod so that it runs in the size solution and tho [58] Field of Search 28/28 mainingtolls are positioned above the levslof the Y 1 S128, Suitable guards are provided to restrict the References Cited amount ofslinging of size from the rolls during high UNITED STATES PATENTS speedoperatton. The immersion roll is supported for vertical movement between a lowered operative p osi- 532 32; 5 22 tion in the size solution and a raised inoperative posi- 2 982 001 51961 0s i:|li. ......III: .11128/28 abovethe upper level of the size i Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 31 'ttgr rl -z4 Y 52 x5 T. I I v A 2:2. i 62 \O 214 IL\\ 0 24 62 HIV 2L a l 6 1 3 Q tt 22;

ATENTEBJUL 9:914 3.822.451

sum 1 or 3 PATENTEU JUL 91914 SHEET 2 BF 3' SIZE BOX This invention relates generally to the art of sizing textile strands and more particularly to an improved size box for applying a textile size material to textile strands at relatively high rates of speed.

In most known types of size boxes, the immersion roll, as well as at least one squeeze roll, normally rotates in the size solution in the tank. The strands are guided beneath the immersion roll and upwardly over the squeeze roll as they pass through the size box. This Conventional type of size box operates satisfactorily when the speed of the strands does not exceed about 150 to 200 yards per minute. However, when the speed of this type of size box is increased to feed the strands at 300 yards or more per minute, the size picked up by the immersion roll and the squeeze roll is slung to such an extent that it is not possible to maintain this high speed operation. Also, the size brought upwardly on the strands bythe lower squeeze roll is forced rearwardly from the nip between the lower squeeze roll and the upper squeeze roll with such force that it disturbs the spaced relationship of the yarns entering the size box.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a size box having an improved arrangement of the rolls whereby only the immersion roll rotatesvin the size solution to reduce the amount of size brought up to the final squeeze and to reduce the amount of size slinging when the size box is operated at high speeds of 300 yards or more per minute.

The problem of size slinging is further reduced and controlled by-the use of guards which limit the extent of slinging of size from the rolls. One guard is in the form of a transversely extending plate which is supported by the swing arms supporting the immersion roll so that it extends across in front of the nip between the upper and lower squeeze rolls and thereby limits the extent of jetting of the size solution from this nip. The other guard is in the form of circular guards surrounding the opposite end portions of the lower squeeze roll, which is longer than the upper squeeze roll and the immersion roll running thereagainst, so that the extent of slinging of size from the ends of the lower'squeeze roll is limited and confined by the circular guard.

The present roll arrangement also provides easy inspection and threading of the strands through the size box. To this end, the immersion roll is supported for vertical movement between a lowered operative position and a raised inoperative position by a pair of manually operated jacks. The jacks are supported by opposite side frames of the size box and adjacent opposite sides of the size tank.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of the size box of the present invention with the central portion being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in FIG. I and showing the left-hand end portion of the size box in elevation with the right-hand end portion being shown in vertical sectional view;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the size box, looking at the right-hand side of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 in FIG. 1 and showing the size tank and related rolls in cross-section;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 in FIG. 5 and illustrating the circular guard extending inwardly over one end portion of the lower squeeze roll;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but illustrating the circular guard moved outwardly to an inoperative position and being held there; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 in-FIG. 3.

The rolls of the present size box are supported at opposite ends in an identical manner. Therefore, the parts at one side of the size box will be described in detail and the corresponding parts at the opposite side of the size box will bear like reference characters with the prime notation added. The size box includes opposite open framework side frames l0, 10' which are maintained in spaced apart relationship by cross-frame members ll, 12 and 13 (FIG. 4). i

A tank 14 is provided for containing a supply of size solution, indicated at S in FIG. 5, and suitable supply lines, not shown, are provided for maintaining the size solution S at the level indicated in FIG. 5 and means is provided for maintaining the size solution in a heated condition. The size heating means usually includes a plurality of steam pipes positioned beneath the level of the size solution and the tank 14 may be provided with a suitable insulating jacket 15 to maintain the heat within the tank. If desired, the jacket 15 may be heated in order to maintain the size solution at the proper temperature.

As the textile yarns Y enter one end of the size box (FIG. 5) they pass over an entry guide-roll and are directed downwardly over a yarnpositioning roll 21, beneath a rubber covered immersion roll 22, pass through a nip formed between the immersion roll 22 and a stainless steel lower squeeze roll 23, pass over the lower squeeze roll 23 and through a nip formed between the lower squeeze roll 23 and a rubber covered upper squeeze roll 24, before the yarns Y pass out of the exit end' of the size box. The yarns Y are withdrawn from a supply creel, not shown, directed through the size box where the size solution is applied thereto and are then passed through a suitable drying means, not shown, before they are wound onto a suitable warp beam.

Opposite end shaft portions of the entry guide roll 20 are supported for rotation in suitable bearings 30,

supported on the respective frames 10, 10'. The opposite end portions of the yarn positioning roll 21 are suit 'ably supported for rotation in the lower ends of swing arms 31, 31', extending downwardly inside of the tank 14 and at opposite sides thereof. The upper ends of the swing arms 31, 31' are fixed to a cross-shaft 32 which is supported for reciprocation in suitable bearings 33, 33' fixed to the cross-frame member 11 and the end frames l0, 10 (FIG. 8). Operating lever arms 35, 35' extend downwardly from opposite ends of the crossshaft 32 and are fixed thereto at their upper ends. Their lower ends of the arms 35, 35' are positioned in front of the free ends of piston rods 36, 36 which extend outwardly from suitable air cylinders 37, 37' fixed on suitable brackets attached to the corresponding side frames l0, l0. Fluid pressure, such as air under pressure, is at times directed into the air cylinders 37, 37

to extend the piston rods 36, 36' and thereby move the yarn positioning roll 21 into the solid line position shown in FIG. 5. Upon release of the air pressure in the air cylinders 37, 37' the yarn positioning roll 21 moves to the inoperative dotted line position shown in FIG. 5. During normal operation, the yarn positioning roll 21 is maintained in pressure engagement with the immersion roll 22, as illustrated in FIG. 5 so that the yarns Y are directed downwardly and their spacing is maintained as they are fed onto the yarn positioning roll 21 and then transferred onto the immersion roll 22 to be carried beneath the size level.

Opposite end shaft portions of the immersion roll 22 are rotatably supported in the lower ends of swing arms 40, 40' which extend downwardly inside of opposite side portions of the tank 14. The upper ends of the swing arms 40, 40' are fixed to a cross-shaft 41. Downwardly extending control arms 42, 42 are fixed at their upper ends to the cross-shaft 41 and extend downwardly adjacent the outside opposite sides of the tank 14. The lower ends of the operating arms 42, 42 are normally positioned to be engaged by the free ends of piston rods 43, 43' which extend outwardly from air cylinders 44, 44 suitably supported on the cross-frame member 12. Cam means in the form of cam plates 45 are associated with the operating arms 42, 42 so that the lower ends of the control arms 42, 42' will not engage and bend the piston rods 43, 43' downwardly as the control arms 42, 42 are lowered, in a manner to be presently described, as when the immersion roll 22 is moved from the raised inoperative position to the lowered operative position shown in FIG. 5.

When the immersion roll 22 is in the lowered position shown in FIG. 5, it is supported with its rotational axis substantially level with the upper level of the size solution S and air pressure can be applied to the air cylinders 44, 44 to apply the desired amount of squeezing pressure on the yarns at the nip between the immersion roll 22 and the lower squeeze roll 23. As the yarns Y pass beneath the immersion roll 22, they pick up size solution and the size solution is at least partially squeezed out of the yarns as they pass through the nip between the immersion roll 22 and the lower squeeze roll 23. 9

During high speed operation, the amount of size picked up by the yarn and carried up to the nip by the immersion roll 22 is considerable. When the size is squeezed out of the yarns at the nip, it is expelled outwardly from the nip in the form of a jet of size. With the present positioning of the immersion roll 22 and the lower squeeze roll 23, this jet of size isdirected downwardly into the size solution and, irrespective of the speed of operation of the size box, this jet of size will not interfere with the sizing of the yarn. As is shown in FIG. 5, the lower peripheral surface of the lower squeeze roll 23 is spaced a substantial distance above the upper level of the size solution S and the rotational axis of the immersion roll 22 is positioned on a line extending at an angle of approximately 45 below the rotational axis of the lower squeeze roll 23. The immersion roll 22 is submerged substantially half-way in the size solution.

For cleaning and threading up operations, the immersion roll 22 may be moved from the solid line position shown in FIG. 5 to the upper dotted line position by suitable roll lifting means. In the present instance, opposite end portions of the cross-shaft 41 are supported in bearing supports 50, which are in turn connected to the upper ends of jack screws 51, 51. The upper ends of guide plates 52, 52 are also fixed on the bearing supports 50, 50 and extend through slide plates 53, 53 which are fixed on the respective side frames 10, 10. The jacks 51, 51' are manually raised and lowered by control handles 54a, 540' at opposite ends of a cross-shaft 54 (FIG. 1). Suitable gear boxes 55, 55' drivingly connect the cross-shaft 54 to control shafts 56, 56 which extend to and operate the respective jacks 51, 51.

After the yarn positioning roll 21 is moved to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 5, the immersion roll 22 may be raised to the upper inoperative dotted line position by removing the air pressure on the cylinders 44, 44 and rotating either control handle 540 or 54a. Thus, the immersion roll 22 may be raised above the level of the size solution, when it is desired to thread up the size box or when it is necessary to clean the immersion roll 22.

The lower squeeze roll 23 has opposite reduced end shaft portions which are suitably supported for rotation in bearings 60, 60' supported on the respective side frames 10, 10. A suitable drive means, not shown, it provided for rotating the lower squeeze roll 23 at the desired speed. Opposite reduced shaft portions of the upper squeeze roll 24 are suitably supported for rotation in bearing arms 62, 62 which are supported at one end on opposite end portions of a cross-shaft 63. The other ends of the arms 62, 62 are connected to the upper ends of control rods 64, 64 which extend downwardly to air cylinders 65, 65'.

When air under pressure is directed into the upper end of the air cylinders 65, 65, the upper squeeze roll 24 is pressed downwardly against the lower squeeze roll 23 under the desired amount of pressure to provide a final squeeze to the yarns as they pass through the nip between the lower squeeze roll 23 and the upper squeeze roll 24. During very high speed operation, a sufficient amount of size is carried upwardly by the yarn to the nip between the lower squeeze roll 23 and the upper squeeze roll 24 that a considerable amount of size is squeezed from the yarns and tends to be jetted toward the entry end at a sufficient volume and speed that it might interfere with the parallel relationship of the sheet of yarns passing from the entry roll 20 downwardly to the yarn positioning roll 21. To eliminate this possibility, a guard plate 69 is suitably supported at opposite ends on the inner surfaces of the swing arms 40, 40'. The guard plate 69 extends upwardly in front of the cross-shaft 41 so that its upper end is above the level of the nip between the lower squeeze roll 23 and the upper squeeze roll 24. Thus, any size jetted toward the entry end by the nip between these two rolls will be limited by the guard plate 69 and prevent any disruption of the yarns entering the size box between the guide roll 20 and the yarn positioning roll 21.

In order to reduce the amount of size which is normally slung from the ends of the size rolls in the tank, opposite ends of the lower squeeze rolls 23 extend outwardly beyond the ends of the immersion roll 22 and the upper squeeze roll 24, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. Thus, any size will collect on the outwardly extending end portions of the lower squeeze roll 23 and will then be slung from this roll rather than from the ends of the rubber covered immersion roll 22 and the rubber covered squeeze roll 24. To prevent this size from slinging out of the size tank and into the path of travel of the yarns entering or leaving the size box, identical circular guards 70, 70 are supported on the inside of the tank 14 to encircle opposite ends of the lower squeeze roll 23 (FIGS. 6 and 7).

The circular guards 70 are resiliently urged inwardly so that they encircle and cover the outer peripheral ends of the lower squeeze roll 23 and limit the outward movement of any size slung from the outer ends of this roll as it rotates. The circular guards 70 are supported for axial movement between the normal operating position shown in FIG. 6 and the retracted position shown in FIG. 7. The guards 70 are supported on inner guide sleeves 72 which are in turn fixed on the inner surface of the tank 14. Resilient means in the form of springs 73 normally urge the circular guards 70 to the opera tive position and when desired, the annular guards 70 may be moved to the retracted position shown in FIG. 7 and held there by suitable latch levers 74. The lower portion of the circular guards 70 are preferably provided with an opening to permit size slung against the inner surface thereof to drain back into the lower portion of the size tank. I

The size box of the present invention thus provides means limiting the slinging of size from squeeze rolls which are rotated at high speed and also provides for easy access to the rolls for threading up and cleaning operationsJThe squeezing pressure on the yarns may also be easily adjusted to apply the proper amount of size to the yarns. The immersion roll is supported for easy access for inspection and threading of the size box.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is:

l. A size box including a tank for containing a supply of size solution maintained at a predetermined level in said tank, an immersion roll provided with a resilient covering and disposed within said tank. a set of upper and lower squeeze rolls, said lower squeeze roll being supported in a fixed position for rotation in said tank and being driven, said upper upper squeeze roll being positioned above said lower squeeze roll, fluid pressure operated means normally maintaining said upper squeeze roll in pressure engagement with said lower squeeze roll, said lower squeeze roll being positioned with its lower peripheral surface spaced above the level of size in said size tank, the rotational axis of said immersion roll being maintained at substantially the level of size in said size tank and at an angle of approximately 45 below the rotational axis of said lower squeeze roll, and fluid pressure operated means normally maintaining said immersion roll in pressure engagement with said lower squeeze roll for applying predetermined pressure to yarns passing beneath said immersion roll and through the nip between said immersion roll and said lower squeeze roll in their travel through said size box.

path of upper and lower squeeze rolls.

2. In a size box according to claim 1 including a yarn positioning roll supported for movement into and out of engagement with said immersion roll, said positioning roll initially engaging the yarns drawn into said size box and positioning the yarns on said immersion roll above the level of the size solution when said positioning roll is in engagement with said immersion roll.

3. In a size box according to claim 2 including a pair of swing arrns positioned inside of said tank and rotatably supporting opposite ends of said yarn positioning roll at their lower. ends and fluid pressure operated means operatively connected to the upper ends of said swing arms for normally maintaining said yarn positioning roll in engagement with said immersion roll.

4. In a size box according to claim 1 wherein opposite ends of said lower squeeze roll extend outwardly beyond opposite ends of said upper squeeze roll and said immersion roll, and including a circular guard surrounding the outwardly extending opposite ends of said lower squeeze roll for confining any size slung from the outwardly extending opposite ends of said lower squeeze roll.

5. In a size box according to claim 4 including a circular support ring fixed on the inside walls at opposite sidesof said tank, said circular guards being supported for axial sliding movement on said circular support rings, and resilient means normally urging said circular guards away from said side walls to surround the opposite end portions of said lower squeeze roll.

6. In a size box according'to claim 1 including a pair of swing arms positioned inside of said tank and rotatably supporting opposite ends of said immersion roll at their lower ends, and means supporting the upper ends of said swing arms for vertical movement so that said immersion roll may be raised above the level of the size solution and above the level of the rotational axis of said lower squeeze roll.

7. In a size box according to claim 6 wherein said support means comprises manually operable jack means operatively connected to the upper ends of said swing arms.

8. In a size box according to claim 7 wherein said fluid pressure operated means comprises a pair of pressure arms positioned outside of said size tank and being operatively connected at their upper ends to the upper ends of said swinganns, a pair of air cylinders each having a piston rod with the free end positioned to engage the lower ends of said pressure arms when said immersion is in the lowered operative position.

9. In a size box according to claim 8 including cam means for moving the lower ends of said pressure arms to pass in front of the free ends of said piston rods as said immersion is moved from the raised inoperative position to the lowered operative position by said jack means.

10. In a size box according to claim 6 including a guard plate supported between said swing arms for limiting the extent of jetting of size from the nip of said 

1. A size box including a tank for containing a supply of size solution maintained at a predetermined level in said tank, an immersion roll provided with a resilient covering and disposed within said tank, a set of upper and lower squeeze rolls, said lower squeeze roll being supported in a fixed position for rotation in said tank and being driven, said upper upper squeeze roll being positioned above said lower squeeze roll, fluid pressure operated means normally maintaining said upper squeeze roll in pressure engagement with said lower squeeze roll, said lower squeeze roll being positioned with its lower peripheral surface spaced above the level of size in said size tank, the rotational axis of said immersion roll being maintained at substantially the level of size in said size tank and at an angle of approximately 45* below the rotational axis of said lower squeeze roll, and fluid pressure operated means normally maintaining said immersion roll in pressure engagement with said lower squeeze roll for applying predetermined pressure to yarns passing beneath said immersion roll and through the nip between said immersion roll and said lower squeeze roll in their path of travel through said size box.
 2. In a size box according to claim 1 including a yarn positioning roll supported for movement into and out of engagement with said immersion roll, said positioning roll initially engaging the yarns drawn into said size box and positioning the yarns on said immersion roll above the level of the size solution when said positioning roll is in engagement with said immersion roll.
 3. In a size box according to claim 2 including a pair of swing arms positioned inside of said tank and rotatably supporting opposite ends of said yarn positioning roll at their lower ends and fluid pressure operated means operatively connected to the upper ends of said swing arms for normally maintaining said yarn positioning roll in engagement with said immersion roll.
 4. In a size box according to claim 1 wherein opposite ends of said lower squeeze roll extend outwardly beyond opposite ends of said upper squeeze roll and said immersion roll, and including a circular guard surrounding the outwardly extending opposite ends of said lower squeeze roll for confining any size slung from the outwardly extending opposite ends of said lower squeeze roll.
 5. In a size box according to claim 4 including a circular support ring fixed on the inside walls at opposite sides of said tank, said circular guards being supported for axial sliding movement on said circular support rings, and resilient means normally urging said circular guards away from said side walls to surround the opposite end portions of said lower sQueeze roll.
 6. In a size box according to claim 1 including a pair of swing arms positioned inside of said tank and rotatably supporting opposite ends of said immersion roll at their lower ends, and means supporting the upper ends of said swing arms for vertical movement so that said immersion roll may be raised above the level of the size solution and above the level of the rotational axis of said lower squeeze roll.
 7. In a size box according to claim 6 wherein said support means comprises manually operable jack means operatively connected to the upper ends of said swing arms.
 8. In a size box according to claim 7 wherein said fluid pressure operated means comprises a pair of pressure arms positioned outside of said size tank and being operatively connected at their upper ends to the upper ends of said swing arms, a pair of air cylinders each having a piston rod with the free end positioned to engage the lower ends of said pressure arms when said immersion is in the lowered operative position.
 9. In a size box according to claim 8 including cam means for moving the lower ends of said pressure arms to pass in front of the free ends of said piston rods as said immersion is moved from the raised inoperative position to the lowered operative position by said jack means.
 10. In a size box according to claim 6 including a guard plate supported between said swing arms for limiting the extent of jetting of size from the nip of said upper and lower squeeze rolls. 